Preparations for the cultural and artistic event ‘Embroidered Donetsk Region – 2026’ are underway. Communities in the region are already actively working on creating their own designs for traditional shirts, delving into the study of local history, symbolism and ornamental heritage.
One of the most interesting stages of the project is currently underway – the development of concepts and sketches for the shirts. Community teams are determining the style of the embroidered shirt, the colour of the fabric, selecting and creating ornaments, and thinking through their symbolism and meaning. At the same time, work is continuing on embroidery patterns, which will later form the basis for the creation of unique shirts. Each community is forming its own visual history — profound, well thought out and closely linked to its past and present.
Donetsk Region Embroidery is an innovative project aimed at reviving the cultural memory of the region, and in 2026 it will mark the 20th anniversary of World Embroidery Day. The aim of the initiative is to unite 46 communities in the Donetsk region around the creation of embroidered shirts that reflect their historical journey.
The project is based on the idea of creatively combining authentic ornaments of the first settlers of the 18th-19th centuries with symbols of modern life and community resilience. Participants work with archival materials, research the history of the founding of their settlements, and use ornaments to convey the community's journey from its origins to the present day.
Work on the project is ongoing. You can follow the progress of the campaign and the stages of preparation using the hashtag #Донеччина_Вишивана2026, as well as on the Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560298280950